Cigarette machine inking mechanism



H. L. BECHTOLD ,7 CIGARETTE MACHINE INKING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 27, Filed May 14 949 w@\ \w m D L Rm Y 2 ML. 5m 1 m A N E H @v mvw w, .5 m L mmv w 9 n O L @N\ 4 Q; $vw @2 m6 J: om w. I my 5 N GER? m9 Oct. 27, 1953 H. L. BECHTOLD CIGARETTE MACHINE INKING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1949 INVENTOR HENRY L. BECHTOLD ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES 2,656,789 CIGARETTE MACHINE INKING MECHANISM Henry L. Bechtold, Grantwood, N. J., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 14, 1949, Serial No. 93,237 Claims. (Cl. 101-350) This invention relates to inking mechanisms for printing devices, and more particularly to an improved type of inking mechanism in which the ink supply contained within a collapsible container from which the ink is progressively expressed in timed relation with the operation of the printing device.

The invention relates to an inking mechanism designed primarily for use in cigarette machines, although by nature of its construction and operation, it can find ready application in other fields of printing.

The invention solves the problem of insuring a continually fresh supply of ink, and thereby makes possible greatly improved evenness of feed and uniformity of distribution of ink to the printing device with which it is used. This is because mechanism is provided which keeps the ink free from contact with the air until it is actually about to be transferred to the ink distributing elements of t. e inking mechanism. In this manner, caking and hardening of ink, which occurs in inking mechanisms using open wells or fountains, is substantially eliminated, and also contermination due to the presence of dust and dirt in the air is prevented.

An object of the present inventionis to provide an inking mechanism which substantially assures that the ink will both be uniform and fresh when fed to the distributing rollers because it is not exppsetl to the air, and dust particles cannot enter it; further, there is little or no chance for it hardening before it is transferred to the printing type.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means ivliic automatically cuts off the flow of through the orifice or aperture in the ink delivering device or nozzle, when the machine with which the i king mechanism is associated, is stopped. lviechanism is provided to seal off the ink supply, thereby keeping it fresh and clean until the machine is started again, at which time the ink supply is unsealed or opened and ink can flow through the delivery aperture of the ink delivery device or nozzle. The invention also consists in a provision of a novel type of inking mechanism utilizing a closed, sealed container of ink, such as a collapsible metal tube, f om which the ink is slowly and uniformly expressed for delivery to the printing elements of the printing device with which the inking mechanism is associated. This results in considerable economy, the ink cannot Eharden, and it unnecessary to clean an ink receptacle or well. When the ink in the container or tube has been used up, it is merely necessary to remove the empty tube, insert a filled one, and the inking mechanism is then ready for further operation.

The invention also consists in the provision of an inking mechanism provided with means for progressively engaging and compressing the sides of an elongated container or collapsible tube containing ink whereby ink is squeezed from the nozzle of the tube and delivered by suitable distributing eIements to the printing dies or typeof a printing device with which the inking mechanism is associated.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and form a part of the specification, and in which like characters designate similar parts:

Figure l is a front view of an inking mechanism embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation of the same taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, illustrating the mounting and driving means of the ink feeding means; 7

Figure 3 is also a partial end elevation taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the solenoid operated valve shaft of the ink supply mechanism; and

Figure 4 is a rear view of the inking mechanism of the invention illustrating the reduction gear and driving means for the same.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and i, the ink which is to be fed to the printing elements, is contained within an elo'ngated container or collapsible tube T, made of suitable flexible material such as a lead or aluminum foil tube of conventional design. The fact that ink is contained in a tube of this type means that at all times the ink is protected from dust and dirt dispersed in the air; also, it is maintained fresh because of the manner in which it is sealed against access to the air, as described hereinafter.

When the supply of ink in a container has been used up, it is necessary only to remove the used container or tube and insert a filled tube, making the proper adjustments in order to establish the desired working relationship between the several parts, as described hereinafter.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the inking mechanism comprising the present invention, is mounted in a suitable housing designated generally ID, which consists of a vertical Wall H and side iianges I3 around its sides and projecting outwardly therefrom. Housing 10 can 'be attached in any desired manner to the machine with which the inking mechanism is associated. Although the inking mechanism of the invention is of general application, in the present case it is assumed that it is attached to a cigarette machine and is driven through a beveled gear l2 on shaft l4 (Figure 4) of the main drive of the cigarette machine. Bevel gear I2 meshes with a, bevel gear I6 secured to printer drum shaft I8 on which is mounted a suitable conventional printer drum 29 on which travels the paper or web which is to printer drum 2:) is shown in Figure l.

Shaft l8, which is mounted in a suitable bearing in wall II of housing I0, alsohas secured I of a suitable spring 86.

' IE] (Figures 1 and 2).

,trated embodiment, guide rails E68 are posithereto a gear 22 which meshes with and drives gear 24 mounted on shaft 26 which carrie type roller 28. Gear 22, by means of intermeshing and intermediate gears 35 and 32, drives gear 34 and shaft which carries ink roller 38 of conventional design (Figure l) Gear 30 is loosely mounted on stud 4E3; gear 32 is loosely mounted on shaft 42. Stud 515 and shaft 42 are each supported and held in suitable bearings in wall ll of housing Iii.

The hub of gear 22 is provided with an eccentric 44 which supports and actuates an eccentric strap 45 provided with an eccentric rod '36, the free end of which carries a pin 48 engaging with slot c formed in the upper end of arm 52 mounted on shaft 52. Tension spring 54, having its ends connected to arm 52 and eccentric rod ie respectively, provides means for a proper yielding engagement between these two members.

Also mounted on shaft 42 is an arm 56 which at its free end carries an ink transfer roller 58 used to transfer ink from a device provided with an ink delivery orifice or opening, such as a nozzle to ink roller 35 mentioned above. The desired movement or oscillating motion of ink transfer roller 58 is obtained j by means of eccentric 4t, eccentric rod 46 and arm 52 as described above.

The oscillating motion of arm 55, by means of pawl 62, pivotally mounted thereon, transmits an intermittent rotary motion to ratchet 54 mounted on shaft as on which is fixed worm 58 which transfers this intermittent motion to worm wheel is on shaft 72. Shaft F2 is supported in a suitable bearing bracket it (Figure 4) secured to wall II of housing Iii. Secured to shaft "I2 is a worm is which meshes with worm wheel '58 loosely mounted; on shaft 3G supported in a suitable bearing in wall I I of housing I0.

A pawl 82, pivotally mounted on worm wheel 78, engages ratchet s4 mounted on shaft BI], and thereby the intermittent motion of worm wheel I8 is transferred to shaft 86. Pawl 82 is held in engagement with ratchet 84 by means This spring also provides means for disengaging shaft 89 from its worm drive when it is desired to turn shaft 80 independently. Also mounted on shaft 8i} is a bevel gear 88 which meshes with bevel gear as slidably keyed to shaft 32 supported by bearing brackets as, 96 and 98 attached to wall II (Figure l). Bracket as is provided with screw stud use which engages with an annular groove I82 in hub tilt of gear 56. In effect therefore,

bracket 9 supports the hub of gear led with shaft 92 extending therethrough, and stud I80 prevents any side movement of bevel gear ea.

Bearing brackets 93 and 93 are secured in any suitable manner to a vertically positioned carriage plate I535 slidably supported by spaced guide rails I633 secured to wall II of housing As shown in the illustioned in spaced horizontal arrangement and carriage plate we therefore moves in a substantially horizontal direction as the ink in tube T is expressed therefrom and delivered to nozzle 653. If desired, carriage plate Hi5 could be supported in some other angular position.

Carriage plate iils is provided with a hub III! I from which extends a horizontal shaft II2, the

extreme end of which carries an upright bearing arm I I4. Loosely'mounted on shaft IE2 is a. gearllfi freely meshing with an upper gear H8 loosely mounted on a stud I projecting 4 through a slot I2i formed in arm H4 and clamped in fixed adjusted position by means of a shoulder I22 and a thumb screw I24 engaging a conical recess I25 in slot I21 of bearing arm H4. Gears H6 and H8 are so mounted and. positioned, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, that they engage and squeeze an ink containing tube and travel therealong from the closed bottom of the tube towards the nozzle portion or open end in progressively expressing all of the ink from the tube or container T. Hub III (Figure 2) of lower squeeze gear H6 in the illustrated embodiment forms an integral part with a worm wheel I28 which meshes with a worm I39 secured to shaft 92. The teeth of gears H5, H8, which engage, travel along, compress and express ink from container T, preferably are rounded or free from sharp cutting edges. This arrangement provides a satisfactory and efficient means for expressing ink from tube T, and also the rounded teeth effectively prevent cutting the material from which the tube is formed, which would result in loss of ink.

Nozzle til, mentioned hereinabove, is secured to an upright tube I32, as by being threadably attached thereto, extending from a duct member lite provided with suitable passage I36, the opening of which is provided with a tube conheating and securing nipple its to which the upper threaded portion or discharge end of a conventional type of collapsible metal or foil ink containing tube T may be attached. Duct member I34 is attached to a pair of stubs I35 held by wall II of housing Is.

In order to insure that the least amount of ink can leave nozzle 6b when the machine is stopped, and also that the desired uniformity and freshness of ink can be maintained at all times, there is provided a shut-off valve, designated generally I43, associated with nozzle (Figure 1). In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the shut-off valve I43 consists of I a horizontal shaft I43 provided with a valve hole or bore I52 which is in line with the discharge passage or orifice 5| in nozzle 69. construction and operation of the shut-off valve I43 is generally the same as that found in conventional shut-off valves of this type, and therefore it may readily be understood that if a shaft 14s is turned a desired number of degrees, say sixty degrees, this axial turning of valve shaft I40 will cause a closing of the passage in nozzle 69, thereby positively cutting off the supply 0 ink to transfer roller 58. 7

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that the desired opening and closing of the passage fiI in nozzle 66 by the turning of shaft I40 through sixty degrees, is effected by the action of solenoid I44. Secured to the lower portion of armature I46 of solenoid I44, is a lug I48, the

free end of which is provided with a slot I50 which engages with a horizontal rod or pin I52 mounted on one end of arm I54, the other end of which is secured to valve shaft Hi1). When, therefore, solenoid I44 is energized or de-energized, it causes an upward or downward movement of its armature I46, and valve shaft I40 ,energization and de-energization of solenoid I44 may be caused by the same switch which starts and stops the motor of the machine. Solenoid I44 The 5 is mounted on a suitable bracket I 58 attached to wall I I of housing II). A slotted bearing lug I 4| is provided to give additional support to valve shaft I43 and facilitates removal of duct member I34, its nozzle I50, and valve mechanism.

In preparing the above described inking mechanism'for operation, a full tube T of ink is screwed to nipple I35 and the closed end thereof is positioned between gears H6 and II 8 which at this time are located at the extreme left, as viewed in Figure 1. Gears II 6 and I I8 are located at the extreme left as viewed in Figure 1 by gripping nob I 60 on shaft 92 and pushing towards the left, which locates carriage plate I06 and gears I I6 and I I3 in position to receive the ends of the tube. In order to insert the closed end of a full tube T between gears H6 and H8, thumb screw I24 is loosened and gear H8 is raised sufficiently to insert the closed end of tube T between these two gears, after which, gear H8 is lowered and clamped against the closed end of the tube, thumb screw I24 being turned to operative clamping position in conical recess I26 of slot I2 I, whereby gears IIS, IIS will have a firm squeezing grip on the end of the tube.

The inking mechanism is then ready for operation. The slow intermittent turning of shaft 92 causes gears I I6, IIB to simultaneously compress and slowly travel along the flattened portion of the tube and express ink from the tube through the passage of duct member I34 into nozzle 60, which, so long as the machine is in operation, is open. That is, valve shaft I40 is turned to the position shown in Figure 1, and ink is free to move through now open nozzle Bll where it is taken up by transfer roller 58 and transferred to ink roller 38. Roller 38 preferably is so constructed and arranged that it has an axial movement as well as a rotary movement, a feature which is well known in the inking mechanism art. Ink roller 33 may in known manner be engaged by a number of spreader rollers (not shown) and another transfer roller I52 which transfers ink from the surface of roller 38 to the type of rotating printer roller 28. Ihe speed reduction between shaft I8 and squeeze gears II 6, I I8, effected by the eccentric, ratchet, and several sets of worm gears, causes gears I I6, I I8 to move so slowly along tube T in collapsing it and expressing ink therefrom, that it will take a long time, for example, several months, before the ink supply therein'is exhausted.

As an illustration of the operation of the device, when used in a cigarette machine, gears II6, I I8 can be so driven that worm I38 makes one revolution every six hours of operation, and gears IIS, I I8 make one sixtieth of a revolution in this time, or one complete revolution every 360 hours. This arrangement has the great advantage that the ink supply is always sealed when the machine is stopped or at rest, providing a satisfactory dust proof and dirt-free system, thereby preventing the ink from caking and drying, and also making unnecessary the use of ink fountains and the cleaning thereof.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of, the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustrate the invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is: w 5

1. An inking mechanism for a printing machine comprising anink distributing roller, a nozzle,

connecting said source of supply of inkto said a conduit connected to said nozzle, a pair of meshing gears constructed and arranged to engage opposite sides of a collapsible tube containing a supply of ink, a connection detachably secured to the open end of said tube, positively actuated means for driving said gears to advance said gears along said tube, thereby collapsing said tube and expressing ink therefrom through said conduit and nozzle, an ink transfer roller for transferring ink from said nozzle to said distributing roller, an arm supporting said transfer roller, means on said arm for intermittently driving said means, a valve in said nozzle, operating means for said valve, and means operative in response to the stopping of said printing I machine for actuating said valve operating means for closing said valve to prevent the delivery of ink from said nozzle when the movement of said gears is interrupted and said printing machine is stopped.

2. An inking mechanism for a printing machine comprising an ink distributing roller, a nozzle, a conduit connected to said nozzle, a pair of meshing gears constructed and arranged to engage opposite sides of a collapsible tube containing a supply of ink, a connection detachably secured to the open end of said tube, positively actuated means for driving said gears to advance said gears along said tube, thereby collapsing said tube and expressing ink therefrom through said conduit and nozzle, an ink transfer roller for transferring ink from said nozzle to said distributing roller, a

valve controlling the delivery of ink from said nozzle to said transfer roller, a valve actuating member, operating means for said actuating member and means operative in response to the stopping of said printing machine for actuating said valve operating means for actuating said member when said movement of said gears is interrupted to prevent the delivery of ink from said nozzle when said machine is stopped.

3. An inking mechanism for use with a printing machine, comprising an ink receiving surface, an oscillatable arm, an ink transfer roller mounted on said arm, a pawl mounted on said arm, a shaft, a ratchet mounted on said shaft and engaged by said pawl, means for oscillating said arm to cause said pawl to engage said ratchet and turn said shaft on one movement of said arm, and to cause said transfer roller to deliver ink to said surface on the return movement of said arm, a worm on said shafta second shaft, a worm wheel en gaging said worm mounted on said second shaft,

a worm on said second shaft, a third shafta j worm wheel driven by said last-named worm loosely mounted on the third shaft, a ratchet fixed to said third shaft, a pawl on said lastnamed worm wheel engaging said last-named ratchet, an ink delivery device having an ink passageway, a source of supply of ink, a conduit device, and means driven bysaid last-named pawl and ratchet for feeding ink from said sourceof supply through said conduit to said delivery device for transfer by said transfer roller to said ink receiving surface.

4. The inking mechanism defined in claim 3 including means for driving said printing machine, and mechanism for closing said passage-way and interrupting the flow ofink from said ink delivery device when said machine is stopped.

5. An inking mechanism for use with a printing machine, ,comprising'an ink receiving surface, an-oscillatable arm, anink transfer-roller mounted onsaid arm, apawlmounted onsaid arm; a shaft, a ratchet mounted on said shaft and engaged by said pawl," a worm on said shaft, a movable support, a second shaft, a worm wheel engaging said worm mounted on said second shaft, a worm on said second shaft, a third shaft connected to said movable support, a worm wheel 'clriv'en by said last-named wormmounted on said third shaft, afourth shaft, driving connections between said third shaft and said fourth shaft, a worm on said fourth shaft, an ink delivery con- "d uit','a source of supply of ink, means connecting'said source of ink supply in said conduit, a rotary ink feeding member drivenby said fourth shaft, a stud mounting said member, a bracket 'on'said stud, a second rotary ink feeding member' mounted on" said bracket in operative relationship with said first-named ink feeding member, and continuously operated means for oscillating' said arm to move said support and drive said shafts and cause said members to slowly expressink from said source of supply through said conduit onto said ink transfer roller for transfer' of said ink to said surface.

6. An inking mechanism for use with a printing machine comprising an ink distributing member, a device provided with a bore and an inkd'elivery aperture, a source of supply of ink,

including a collapsible tube containing a quantity of ink, a conduit connected to said device and said tube, spaced traveling intermeshing tube collapsing members engaging the sides of said tube, a support for said tube collapsing members, driving means for advancing said support' to cause said tube collapsing members to move along said tube and squeeze ink there from, a valve in said bore of said device, means for maintaining said valve open during normal operation of said mechanism, and mechanism for closing said valve to seal said ink in said bore again'st delivery therefrom when said inking and an ink delivery aperture, a sourceof supply of ink including a collapsible tube containing a quantity of ink, a conduit connected to I said device and said tube, spaced traveling intermeshing tube collapsing members, a movable support for said tube collapsing members, continuously actuated driving mechanism, includ- I ing a driving shaft, and intermittently actuated driving means driven by said shaft for intermittently moving said support to cause said tube "collapsing members to slowly rotate and move along and squeeze said tube to force ink therefrom into said conduit and said bore, said driving means including an elongated shaft and a grip at one end of said shaft for moving said support manually to an inoperative position when substantially all ink has been squeezed from said tube, means for separating said tube collapsing-members for reintroduction of the "closed end of a filled tube of ink therebetween, and means for securing said members in operative squeezing relationship.

8. In an inking mechamsm for a printingmachine, an ink conduit, an ink delivery nozzle "provided with an'ink feeding bore and a delivaperture, a 'sour'ce of supply of ink comprisa collapsible tubular-container, having a ,1 8 closed end and an open end; means for-fixedly securing said open end of said container in said conduit, spaced rotary collapsing and squeezing members supporting said closed end of said container, positively actuated 'means including a drive shaft for intermittently slowly moving said members along said container towards said fixedly secured end to collapse said container and force ink therefrom into said conduit, a valve in said conduit, and means operative in response to the stopping of the movement of said drive shaft for moving said valve to close said conduit and seal said ink in said conduit from contact with the air and prevent the flow of ink therefrom.

9. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, an ink distributing roller, an ink transfer roller, a device provided-with an ink delivery aperture, a movable support for said ink transfer roller, means for operating said sup 'port to move said ink transfer roller to and from said distributing roller and said aperture, a source of supply of ink comprising an elongated collapsible container containing a quantity of ink, said container having an open end and a closed end, a conduit connecting said open end of said container with said device for flow of said ink from said open end of said container through said device for delivery through said aperture, spaced intermeshing members engaging and supporting said closed end of said container, means for rotating said distributing roller, positively actuated intermittently operated driving means operated by said transfer roller support for moving said intermeshing members along said container from said closed end towards said open end thereof to collapse said container and force'ink therefrom through said conduit and device, and valve means operative when said distributing roller is stopped for cutting off the flow of ink through said aperture and sealing said ink in said conduit against ac cess of air thereto when said machine is stopped.

10. An inking mechanism for a printing machine comprising an ink distributing roller, a

nozzle, a conduit connected to said nozzle, a pair of meshing gears constructed and arranged to engage opposite sides of a collapsible tube containing a supply of ink, a connection detachably secured to the open end of said tube, means for driving said gears to advance said gears along said tube, thereby collapsing said tube and expressing ink therefrom through said conduit and nozzle, an ink transfer roller for transferring ink from said'nozzle to said distributing roller, a valve controlling the delivery of ink from said nozzle to said transfer roller, a valve actuating member, and means foractuating said member when said movement of said gears is interrupted to prevent the delivery of ink from said'nozzle when said machine is stopped, said last'named means including a solenoid, a driving shaft, and means operative in response to the de-energizing of said solenoid and the stopping of movement of said shaft to move said valve to closed position. 7 V

HENRY L. BECHTOLD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V Number Name Date 1,841,275 Baptiste Jan. 12, 1932 1,842,000 Winsor Jan. 19, 1932 1,849,143 Granger Mar. 15,1932 2,065,279 Kline Dec. 22, 1936 

